Having a professional Title Search is an important step that should be ordered by every home buyer quickly after they have entered into a contract to buy a home. Yes, you may see who the seller is online in the county tax records, but there are possibly more specifics out there that require a professional search. Did you notice that I said Continue Reading
Local Stories
The following is an archive of my articles about builders, strategies, home inspections, financing, painting, staging, tips, and skills. Start reading and you can search the archive anytime.
Screened-in Porches
Way back in the 1970's, I remember going to friend's house and sitting in their screened-in porch eating burgers, local corn on the cob and beefy tomatoes from their garden. No one really had AC back then, and it was in here where we could feel the summer evening breeze, hear birds, and an occasional car from down the hill. Those porches Continue Reading
Locking-In, Commuting, Schools, and …
Three common question I'm hearing in 2019 are: When should we lock-in our rate?I'm commuting to _______, how's the commute?What do you know about the school?Is there shopping nearby? Locking-in a mortgage rate Mortgage rates dropped unexpectedly in early 2019 providing a unique opportunity for anyone who is house hunting to lock-in a Continue Reading
Everyday is Earth Day
Everyday is Earth Day in my community. The Town of Vienna has a unique program encouraging people to make donations to support the replacement of street trees around town. About ten years ago, I was talking with the director of the parks and recreation department about street trees that had been removed along Route 123 near Tysons Corner. Continue Reading
Is the wrong school listed online?
The truth is, school reputations can make or break real estate values. And why does public school funding usually become a political hot potato when jurisdictions discuss increasing funding or adding a new 1/2 cent meals tax to help fund the schools? Honestly, good schools cement real estate values. (Of course, if that new public school funding is Continue Reading
Appealing Your Fairfax Real Estate Assessment
If the next owner of your home will probably tear it down to build a brand new home, then you should carefully examine your 2019 Fairfax County Real Estate Assessment. For many owners who live in Vienna, VA, they know the tear-down market is hot since today's home buyers see the Town as an ideal place to live. Builders send postcards and Continue Reading
Stormwater and New Homes
Seeing a small ditch or poorly landscaped rocky area is what home buyers are startled to see when looking at new homes in Vienna. They can become an all-consuming focal point... and not in a very good way. First off, there was a rainfall record set in 2018. Stormwater runoff has become an issue across the country as record levels of rain Continue Reading
10 years ago I started this blog
Then one day you find that, 10 years have got behind you... ~ Time by Pink Floyd There are moments in time such as when your car is 10-years old, your dog is 10, or your kid turns 10, that you realize time passes quickly. Today, 10 years ago, I published my first blog post right here on dougfrancis.com . Short and simple, but a lot of Continue Reading
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